Cameron Michael O'Connell

Cameron Michael O’Connell, 31, flew to Heaven on Memorial Day, May 26th, 2025, in Spokane, Washington.

Cameron was born on April 21, 1994 in Sarasota, Florida, to Michael and Barbara O’Connell. After family moves to Minnesota, Texas, Florida, North Carolina, and Washington, he graduated from Lewis and Clark High School in Spokane and the Running Start Program at Eastern Washington University in Cheney. He earned an Air Force ROTC scholarship to attend Embry-Riddle University in Prescott, Arizona, graduating Magna cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering. After his commission into the United States Air Force as an Officer, he went on to complete his Master’s Degree in Aerospace Engineering at the Daytona campus of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.

Cameron’s distinguished Air Force career began in Pilot Training in Enid, Oklahoma, earning his wings flying the T-6 and the T-1, promoting to Lieutenant and moving to McGuire AFB in New Jersey to train and certify on the KC-10A Refueler, earning a promotion to Captain and Instructor Pilot. Most recently Captain O’Connell was certified on the new Boeing KC-46 Refueler, earning a promotion to Major and Instructor/ Evaluation Officer on the KC-46 at Travis AFB in California. His flying career included multiple duty tours in Europe, North America, and the Middle East, including refueling flights providing air support to ground troops in Afghanistan, as well as flying people and assets out of Afghanistan upon completion of that important mission.

Cameron dreamed of flying from the young age of 2, and focused his efforts, energy, and time to achieving his big dream of becoming a pilot. He joined Young Eagles and the Civil Air Patrol as a young teenager, and earned his private pilot license at 16, prior to earning a driver’s license! Everything Cameron did was always with focus, commitment, and ambition to achieve his goal of a career as an exceptional pilot, and we are so proud to know that he achieved those goals!

In his career and his private life, Cameron rose to leadership with a servant’s heart and a caring sense of humility and service to others. Never wanting the spotlight or the glory, he worked diligently to always be the leader and teammate that others could always count on to do the right thing, and do it well. Leadership and respect came from the hearts of the people he touched, and he earned every bit of that respect.

Cameron leaves behind his proud and loving parents, Mike and Barb O’Connell of Indiana, his older brother Kenny (Melissa) O’Connell and nephew Colin of Cheney, his grandparents Kenny and Martha Grimmett of Cheney, his aunt and uncle Brett and Sandy Wright of Spokane, his aunt and uncle Rafael and Sharon Munoz of Renton, his uncle John O’Connell of Everett, cousins Taylor, Marin (Connor), Logan, and Ryland, and friend Patrick Madden of New Jersey.

Cameron was a special light and spirit in this world, touching many lives and leaving a positive impact on all those special people that were blessed to know him. His quick wit, warm heart, and caring soul will be missed by SO MANY, and the void left by his early passing will never be filled. But…he would want us to remember, cherish, and pass on the light and goodwill to others as we all journey through our lives. He will always be in our hearts…ALWAYS.

A funeral mass to celebrate Major Cameron O’Connell’s life is planned for 2:00 PM on Friday, June 6th, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 219 E. Rockwood Blvd, Spokane, Washington, with visitation an hour earlier at 1:00 PM. Full military honors to follow at 4:30 PM, Spokane-Cheney Memorial Gardens, 5909 Cheney Spokane Road, in Spokane. A very special thanks to the Second Floor ICU team at Sacred Heart hospital in Spokane for their professional and compassionate care of Cameron.  We would also like to thank Life Center for the care they provided in Cameron’s choice to impact the lives of others through organ donation. We are so thankful to have Cameron live on in the lives of the recipients he was able to save through his final selfless act of kindness to others. Our little boy will be greatly missed, but we will always proudly remember that his short life was filled with a lifetime of goals met, adventures taken, lives saved, and people touched by his warmth, his humor, his leadership, and his compassion, always putting others first. Fly high. Fly safe. Just keep flying Cameron, until we see you again.